IAT vs JEE, Which one is Easier?

 

If you are an aspiring student who wants to pursue a career in science or engineering, you might have heard of two popular entrance exams in India: IAT and JEE. But what are these exams, and which one is easier to crack? In this article, we will compare and contrast these two exams, and try to answer the question: IAT vs JEE, which is easier?

What is IAT?

IISER Aptitude Test (IAT) is an entrance exam conducted by the IIT Madras, IISc Bangalore and Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISERs) for admission into their five-year dual degree program in basic sciences (BS-MS). There are seven IISERs in India, located in Pune, Kolkata, Mohali, Bhopal, Thiruvananthapuram, Tirupati, and Berhampur. These institutes are among the premier institutions for research and education in science in India. For more details about these IISERs, refer to our blog:  What are IISERs Famous For?

1. Syllabus-

The IAT exam is usually held in June every year. It consists of 60 multiple-choice questions from four subjects: Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Biology. The duration of the exam is three hours, and the total marks are 240. The questions are based on the syllabus of classes 11 and 12 of CBSE/ICSE/State Boards. There is a negative marking for incorrect answers.

2. Eligibility Criteria-

The candidates who qualify for the IAT exam are eligible for admission into the BS-MS program at any of the IISERs, based on their preferences and merit. The candidates also have to satisfy the minimum eligibility criteria of having at least 60% marks in class 12th. Also, first-time droppers are allowed to apply for the IAT exam and seek admission into the BS-MS program at IISERs, provided they meet the other eligibility criteria mentioned above.

3. Entrance Exam-

Apart from the IAT exam, there is one other option for admission into the IISERs which is JEE Advanced. Candidates who have qualified for the JEE Advanced exam can directly apply for admission into the IISERs without appearing for the IAT exam.

The IAT exam typically consists of four sections, and candidates are generally required to attempt all of them. The sections often include:

• Physics
• Chemistry
• Mathematics
• Biology

While it’s not mandatory to tackle all four sections, if you aim to achieve high marks and secure a spot in the top IISERs, it is advisable to attempt all four sections. The IAT aims to assess a student’s overall aptitude and knowledge in these fundamental science subjects.  

If you are one of those students who want to join IISERs, then you should check out the admission process and eligibility criteria on our video IAT 2024 Exam- IISc & IISER Admission- Eligibility. To know more details about what IAT is, how to prepare for IAT 2024 and some effective strategies, visit our blog: IISER Aptitude test 2024 – ( Preparation, strategy ). 

What is JEE?

The Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) is a critical and highly competitive national-level entrance examination in India. It plays a pivotal role in determining the future of thousands of aspiring engineering and technical students. JEE is crucial for several reasons, and its main focus extends to not only the IITs, NITs, and IIITs but also encompasses institutions like the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), the Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISER) and IIT Madras.

1. Syllabus-

The JEE exam consists of two stages: JEE Main and JEE Advanced. JEE has a significant connection with the IISc Bangalore, IISERs and IIT-M as JEE Advanced, the second phase of JEE, serves as the admission criterion for these institutes. By excelling in JEE, students can secure a place in these esteemed institutions where they can pursue integrated programs in sciences and research, opening doors to scientific careers. However, the level of difficulty and depth of the topics covered in JEE Advanced are high as compared to IAT. 

2. Eligibility Criteria-

The candidates who have qualified in the JEE Advanced exam are eligible for admission to these prestigious institutes like IISc Bangalore, IISERs and IIT-M. They must apply through the JEE Advanced channel and meet the cutoff criteria specified by individual institutes. Some IISERs offer admission based on their performance in the State and Central Boards. Students who have passed their Class XII examinations from recognized boards are also eligible to apply through this JEE Advanced channel.

3. Entrance Exam-

The JEE Advanced exam is conducted by one of the IITs on a rotational basis every year. It consists of two papers: Paper 1 and Paper 2. The duration of each paper is three hours, and the questions are based on the syllabus of classes 11th and 12 of CBSE/ICSE/State Boards. There is a negative marking for incorrect answers.

A pathway to get into IISc Bangalore IISERs and IIT-M is also through the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Advanced. Students who qualify for JEE Advanced are eligible to apply for admission to IISc Bangalore and IISERs. The candidates who qualify for the JEE Advanced exam are eligible for admission into the IISc Bangalore, IISERs and IIT-M based on their scores. Want to know more about the previous year’s cutoff for the JEE Advanced exam for IISER admission, click here. 

IAT or JEE: Which one is easier?

Now that we have seen these two exams, let us compare them and see which one is easier. There is no definitive answer to this question, as different students may find different aspects of these exams challenging or easy. However, we can try to look at some factors that may influence the difficulty level of these exams, such as:

• Syllabus-

The syllabus of both exams is based on the class 11th and 12th of CBSE/ICSE/State Boards. However, the IAT exam covers four subjects: Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Biology, while the JEE exam covers only three subjects: Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. Therefore, the IAT exam may require more preparation and revision of the syllabus than the JEE exam.

• Pattern-

The pattern of the exams is similar, as they consist of multiple-choice questions with negative markings. However, the IAT exam has only one paper with 60 questions, while the JEE Advanced exam has more complex and innovative questions than the IAT exam. Therefore, the JEE exam may require more practice and problem-solving skills than the IAT exam.

• Competition-

The IAT is the entrance exam specific to IISERs, therefore it is taken by a relatively smaller number of students, making it less competitive compared to JEE Advanced whereas JEE Advanced is a national-level exam taken by a much larger number of students, making it highly competitive because it’s not just for IISERs but also admission to top engineering institutes like IITs. Therefore, the JEE exam may have more competition and cut-off marks than the IAT exam.

Based on these factors, both exams are challenging and require a lot of hard work and dedication from the students. However, if we have to choose one, the JEE exam is much tougher than the IAT exam, as it has more complex questions and more competition than the IAT exam. Also, the JEE Advanced exam requires more practice and problem-solving skills than the IAT exam.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, we can say that both IAT and JEE Advanced are important entrance exams for students who want to pursue a career in science and research in India. However, they have different syllabus, patterns, competitions, and outcomes. Therefore, students should choose their exams according to their interests, aptitudes, and goals. For more information, click here.

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